Jackie Joyner-Kersee Quotes & Sayings

We live in a world where sports have the potential to bridge the gap between racism, sexism and discrimination. The 2012 Olympic Games was a great start but hopefully what these games taught us is that if women are given an opportunity on an equal playing field the possibilities for women are endless. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Even at 10 or 12, I was a hot, fast little cheerleader. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Competing in both track and field and basketball for the Bruins I have a lot of great memories to choose from. But my all-time favorite moment in collegiate sports has to be in 1982 when we won UCLA's first NCAA title in track. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I learned to listen and listen very well. It helped me athletically and in the classroom as well. The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Teaching kids about health and fitness is important to me. It's about being fit for life. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I set my sights on making an Olympic team, not realizing how tough it was going to be. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Even though I'm not a competitive athlete, I have to still maintain things and try to keep myself fit because I am at that age where I need to make sure to get those regular checkups and make sure everything is in tact. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I always keep myself in a position of being a student. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Growing up in the time of Title IX - it was passed when I was 10 - I got a front-row seat to so many great moments in women's sports. Of course I didn't know it at the time. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

It's important to me to try and expose young people to the things they believe are off-limits to them. I tell them, 'There are no walls, only the ones we put up.' My advice to young people looking at my life is not to follow my footprint but to go out there and make their own. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I don't think there is a perfect athlete. But if I had to come close to picking someone who demonstrates all the traits that I feel an athlete should have, I would say the perfect athlete would be Tiger Woods. He has the ability, he's humble and he's very good at what he does. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I love track and field, but I also know the day will come when I will have to do something else. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I maintained my edge by always being a student; you will always have something new to learn. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Some people are embarrassed to say they came from East St. Louis, Ill., but now more people want to claim it. I grew up in a community center and I knew what it gave me. I always knew I wanted to give back and help people because people helped me. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

What people need to know is that asthma isn't a minor 'wheeze-disease.' It kills over five thousand people in America every year, and I could've been one of them. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I'm going. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

People assuming that because I'm a great athlete, I can dance. But no. My rhythm is off a little bit. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

For me it's the challenge
the challenge to try to beat myself or do better than I did in the past. I try to keep in mind not what I have accomplished but what I have to try to accomplish in the future. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Your environment doesn't define you. I don't have a lot of money, but I can help train people and I can talk to people. We can all be mentors to the next generation. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

My passion for giving is no different than yours. I give because it's in my heart to give. I give because I was taught to give at a very early age. This is how I developed my passion for giving. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Ask any athlete: We all hurt at times. I'm asking my body to go through seven different tasks. To ask it not to ache would be too much. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

As you grow older and young people come up to you with their history books, you realize that some of the things I have been able to do have been impactful. But for me, I try to keep everything in perspective and stay humble. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

When I was in elementary school, we weren't allowed to do sports other than cheerleading. By junior high, they let us play, but we had to come back after 6:30 p.m. to practice because there was only one gymnasium and the boys used it first. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

There are few restrictions on your life with asthma, as long as you take care of yourself. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

When I started competing, you had to have your coach there. Now you can be coached from a home office via Skype or video. That's not the same as having them on the field with you. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

There is something about seeing myself improve that motivates and excites me. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I've had asthma my entire life. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I might attempt Zumba. I haven't yet, but I thought it would be a lot of fun and different. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I don't think being an athlete is unfeminine. I think of it as a kind of grace. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Girls playing sports is not about winning gold medals. It's about self-esteem, learning to compete and learning how hard you have to work in order to achieve your goals. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

There are many women who came before me who didn't really have the same opportunities that I have had. That's why I always wanted to be a great ambassador - not only today's generation - but for the women who really didn't have a voice, but who paved the way for me. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I would like 'I Dream of Genie' powers. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Winning is great, but being able to finish my last Olympic Games on American soil was very important. Even though I was injured, I didn't let my psyche get the best of me and cause me to doubt myself, so I was willing to pull every muscle in my body in '96 in order to get the job done and I came away with the bronze medal. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I'm a realist and I always have been. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I really do miss playing basketball. I don't play a lot of pick-up games. But I do like using basketball as a form of cross training. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Don't follow in any footprints, make your own prints. Because, you are the future of tomorrow. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

It wasn't until I was 14 and watched the 1976 Olympic games on television that I really started to dream about the big time. I remember seeing Evelyn Ashford in the 100 meters, and she was going to UCLA. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I don't have to be enemies with someone to be competitors with them. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I do not take steroids. I never have. It's sad to me that people want to point fingers. I don't do that. That's not me. I wouldn't feel like a human being. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Once I leave this earth, I know I've done something that will continue to help others. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Getting started as a volunteer anywhere can be a challenge to a lot of people. The biggest hurdle is that people think they have to give all of their spare time. But if you only have a half hour, you can still make a difference. Assisting with small tasks is invaluable. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I have this burning desire to get out there and do my best. It's as if I'm keeping it all in a little bottle, and it's all going to come out when I do the best I'm capable of doing. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I'm more of a hands-on person. I like working with young people from the standpoint of providing support for the grassroots programs. State, national and Olympic champions begin at a grassroots level. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The glory of sport comes from dedication, determination and desire. Achieving success and personal glory in athletics has less to do with wins and losses than it does with learning how to prepare yourself so that at the end of the day, whether on the track or in the office, you know that there was nothing more you could have done to reach your ultimate goal. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The 2012 London Olympic Games fostered a generation of hope. I witnessed women participating for the very first time, representing every nation. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 18 during my freshman year at UCLA. I refused to accept it - and I hid it from my coaches and teammates. But ignoring my problem didn't make it go away. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I'm always challenged by someone. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

There are a lot of other people that really play a significant role in helping you become an Olympian. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I always have been trying to work on the other side of Jackie, and that is, making sure that my appearance, that my image, is right; also, working in the job world, knowing how it is to wake up and go to a job. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I'm a realist and I always have been. Quality training is what I do now; before it was a combination of both quality and quantity. Now I'm not trying to be a world-class athlete, I don't need to train at that level. It's about being fit, fit for life. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

The London games mark the 24th anniversary of my winning two golds and setting the world record in the heptathlon. Someone is going to want it; records are made to be broken - it's only a matter of time. I hope mine will outlive me. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I'm not shy. I'm modest, but I'm very outgoing. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Give back in some way. Always be thoughtful of others. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee

All I ever wanted really, and continue to want out of life, is to give 100 percent to whatever I'm doing and to be committed to whatever I'm doing and then let the results speak for themselves. Also to never take myself or people for granted and always be thankful and grateful to the people who helped me. — Jackie Joyner-Kersee